All Too Hard sired his third front-running winner in three days when De Little Sister (NZ) saluted at Mornington on Thursday.
De Little Sister followed Herzegovina (Tamworth) on Tuesday and Domination (Balaklava) on Wednesday to take the Vinery sire’s strike-rate to 17 winners of 20 races and $765,000 in prizemoney so far this season.
The Pat Carey-trained 3yo filly firmed into even-money for the Cleo White Maiden Plate (1000m) and won like a short-priced favourite should. “She’s got ability but wanted to get it over and done with today,” stable jockey Rhys McLeod said. “She will be a nice horse once she learns to settle.”
De Little Sister is a daughter of Carey’s Victoria Oaks Gr.1 heroine Arapaho Miss (Danehill Dancer) who was purchased by Baramul Stud for $650,000 at the 2011 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Carey bought De Little Sister for $100,000 on behalf of Clanbrooke Racing at the 2017 NZB Karaka yearling sale. “She’s shorter-coupled and has more natural speed than her dam,” Carey said. “It’s early doors with this filly but she looks a miler. She’s nommed for the Thousand Guineas but I’m not sure how the form-line out of this race would stack up in a Group 1.”
All Too Hard’s 3yo colt Herzegovina also adopted front-running tactics to win his maiden at Tamworth on Tuesday. A Baramul Stud homebred for Gerry Harvey, his dam Yugoslavia (More Than Ready) is from a sister to Danelagh (Blue Diamond Gr.1) whose Zabeel foals included Vengeance Of Rain (Hong Kong Cup Gr.1) & Dizelle (AJC Oaks Gr.1).
Flashy chestnut Domination proved he’s on track after a setback with a six-length win for McEvoy Racing on Wednesday.
The lightly-raced son of All Too Hard worked his way to the lead in the Advertiser Newspapers Hcp (1050m) at Balaklava before waving good-bye in the straight. “I knew it was just a case of ‘how far’ on the corner,” jockey Jamie Kah said. “He’s happy when I let him run along and there was plenty left at the finish.”
Domination had won his maiden by five lengths at Balaklava in July but gave ground quickly when subsequently unplaced at Morphettville. “He had throat surgery and choked down a bit last time,” assistant trainer Calvin McEvoy said. “He’s thrived since that break and will head back to town now.”
His dam Attunga Rose (Springsteen) is owned by Vinery’s very own John Tiyce. An unraced half-sister to South African stars Fighting Warrior (G1 Golden Horseshoe) & Royal Zulu Warrior (G2 Charity Mile), she foaled another All Too Hard colt for Tiyce last year.
